We want your opinions

October 01, 2006

ISSUE:

Faced with a development boom in the Laurel area, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education has asked the county to either set aside part of a proposed 1,600-home project site for a new school or ask the builder to contribute millions to build a new one.

News of the Aug. 29 letter from the board and Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell to County Executive Janet S. Owens may refocus the discussion on a separate 78-acre parcel in Russett that is controlled by the board and has been envisioned as an elementary school site for more than a decade.

Community leaders have fought to keep that parcel out of the hands of Russett Center Limited Partnership, the developer of Russett, which has wanted to build houses on part of the site.

Those leaders say that with a looming military job boom at Fort Meade, the board should begin construction of an elementary school there to meet the population demand.

YOUR VIEW:

Should the Board of Education build the long-planned school on the Russett property now, or take steps to sell the site for private development. Tell us what you think at arundel.speakout@baltsun.com by Thursday. Please keep your responses short, and include your name, address and phone number. A selection will be published next Sunday.